Russian Activist Dadin's Prison Term Cut By Six Months

MOSCOW -- Jailed Russian activist Ildar Dadin has had his three-year prison sentence reduced by six months, Dadin's wife said on March 31.

Anastasia Zotova told RFE/RL that the Moscow City Court ruling was announced on March 31.

Dadin was found guilty of "repetitive violation of the regulations on public events" and sentenced on December 7.

Dadin became the first Russian citizen jailed for participating in more than two unsanctioned public events in 180 consecutive days under a controversial law introduced in 2014.

Investigators say he took part in four unsanctioned protests in 2014.

Dadin pleaded not guilty and said the case against him was a "shameful persecution based on an unconstitutional law."

Amnesty International called Dadin's sentence a "shocking and cynical attack on freedom of expression."

Rights activists criticized the law as a tool to crack down on dissent.